Cast Announced for New National Touring Production of The Sound of Music!

Posted on July 27th, 2015

CAST ANNOUNCED FOR NEW NATIONAL TOURING PRODUCTION OF

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

MAKES NORTH TEXAS DEBUT

NOVEMBER 3-22, 2015 AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK
& AUGUST 17-21, 2016 AT BASS PERFORMANCE HALL

Dallas, TX (July 21, 2015) – Casting has been announced for the brand new production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, directed by three-time Tony Award® winner Jack O’Brien. This lavish new production launches this September at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, under the auspices of the Center Theatre Group, and will then tour North America for multiple seasons, playing multi-week and week-long engagements. THE SOUND OF MUSIC premieres the Music Hall at Fair Park November 3-22, 2015, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. This lavish production will return and play Fort Worth at Bass Performance Hall August 17-21, 2016, presented by Performing Arts Fort Worth.

BEN DAVIS (Broadway’s VIOLET, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, LA BOHÈME) will play Captain Georg von Trapp and ASHLEY BROWN (Broadway’s MARY POPPINS, NBC’s The Sound of Music) will play The Mother Abbess with MERWIN FOARD as Max Detweiler, TERI DALE HANSEN as Elsa Schraeder, DAN TRACY as Rolf and PAIGE SILVESTER as Liesl. The von Trapp children will be played by ERICH SCHUETT (Friedrich), MARIA KNASEL (Louisa), QUINN ERICKSON (Kurt), SVEA JOHNSON (Brigitta), MACKENZIE CURRIE (Marta) and AUDREY BENNETT (Gretl).

And introducing Jack O’Brien’s brand new discovery, KERSTIN ANDERSON as Maria Rainer. A current student at Pace University, Ms. Anderson won the coveted role from hundreds who auditioned. This will be her first national tour.

“I’ve always believed Maria was a “star-making” part, rather than the leading role we remember from the movies; so I went looking for someone with star-making magic,” says director O’Brien. “And in through the audition door one day walked Kerstin Anderson, still studying at Pace University in New York. She opened her mouth, she sang and the tears welled up in my eyes. If ever there were an enchanting young woman standing on the brink of discovery — this was it! And now, the discovery is about to be all of ours!”

The ensemble includes Carey Rebecca Brown, Ron Brown, Caitlin Burke, Christopher Carl, Kyla Carter, Austin Colby, Daniella Dalli, Elisabeth Evans, Donna Garner, Meghan Hales, Adam Hill, Jenavene Hester, Jeremy Lanuti, Darren Matthias, Kelly McCormick, Julia Osborne, Andrea Ross, Brent Schindele and Jim Schubin.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC features music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, suggested by The Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp. This new production is directed by Jack O’Brien (credits include: HAIRSPRAY, THE FULL MONTY, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, THE COAST OF UTOPIA), and choreographed by Danny Mefford (FUN HOME, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY and BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON). The design and production team is comprised of Douglas Schmidt, Set Design (Tony Award® nominee: 42ND STREET, INTO THE WOODS); Jane Greenwood, Costume Design (2014 recipient of Special Tony Award ® for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre), Natasha Katz, Lighting Design (Five-time Tony Award® winner: AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, ONCE, AIDA, THE COAST OF UTOPIA, THE GLASS MENAGERIE) and Ken Travis, Sound Design (ALADDIN, NEWSIES, MEMPHIS).

According to director Jack O’Brien, “THE SOUND OF MUSIC has been in our ears for decades, as it deserves to be. But it might be time to look once more, and more closely, at this remarkable work which, I feel, begins to reveal itself as deeper, richer, and more powerful than ever. It’s no longer ‘your mother’s’ familiar SOUND OF MUSIC. We are tearing off the varnish of the past from one of the great glories of our theatergoing experience and making it fresh! This is an opportunity we’ve all longed to create!”

Producer Beth Williams (Grove Entertainment) said, “It’s a great privilege to bring this beloved Rodgers & Hammerstein musical to theaters across North America. We hope that people of all ages will continue to fall in love with it for the first time, or all over again, and that it will truly become one of their ‘favorite things.’ From our distinguished team led by the creative master Jack O’Brien, audiences can expect a truly magnificent production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC.”

In the words of Ted Chapin, President of Rodgers & Hammerstein, “THE SOUND OF MUSIC continues to be the world’s most beloved musical. When a major national tour was suggested, I not only agreed, but was willing to roll up my sleeves and do whatever I could to fashion a new stage production that would re-engage today’s theatergoing public. The show was originally created for Broadway, and seeing it on stage only reinforces the power of the story and the score. And with Jack O’Brien at the directorial helm – well, we simply couldn’t do better. Landing somewhere between THE COAST OF UTOPIA and HAIRSPRAY (shows for which Jack won the Tony®), his production will be smart, focused, and surprising. I can’t wait.”

THE SOUND OF MUSIC enjoyed extraordinary success as the first live television production of a musical in over 50 years when “The Sound of Music Live!” aired on NBC in December, 2013; 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the film version, which continues to be the most successful movie musical in history. The spirited, romantic and beloved musical story of Maria and the Von Trapp Family will once again thrill audiences with such songs as “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “Edelweiss” and the title song.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC is part of Dallas Summer Musicals’ highly anticipated 2015-2016 Season. The new season will continue with ELF The Musical, December 8-20, 2015; THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, February 2-14, 2016; DSM’s production of Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID, March 11-27, 2016; WICKED, April 20 – May 22, 2016; RAGTIME, May 24 – June 5, 2016; BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, June 14-26, 2016; and closing the season will be 42ND STREET, June 28 – July 10, 2016.

Dallas Summer Musicals’ seven-show season tickets, starting at $134, are now on sale online at DallasSummerMusicals.org, in person at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas or by phone at 214-346-3300. In addition, season ticket buyers have the option to add on WICKED, April 20 – May 22, 2016, to their season subscription for an 8-show package starting at $174.

Groups of 10 or more receive a 15% discount for all shows excluding WICKED where groups of 15 or more save on select performances. All groups receive priority seating and many more benefits. Please call 214-426-GROUP (4768) or email Groups@DallasSummerMusicals.org.

Performing Arts Fort Worth’s 2014-2015 Season will continue as follows: JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, Sept. 18-20; and KINKY BOOTS, Oct. 27-Nov. 1.

Performing Arts Fort Worth’s 2015-2016 Season kicks off with the Fort Worth debut of THE BOOK OF MORMON Dec. 1-6, 2015, followed by MOTOWN THE MUSICAL Jan. 13-17, 2016, Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID March 29-April 3, 2016, THE WIZARD OF OZ June 7-12, 2016, 42ND STREET July 12-17, 2016, THE SOUND OF MUSIC Aug. 17-21, 2016 and, closing out the season, the spectacular new production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Oct. 20-30, 2016.

Broadway at the Bass season tickets are on sale online at www.basshall.com, over the phone at 817-212-4280 and in person at the Bass Hall Box Office. Seven-show season ticket packages start at $275. For more information, call 817-212-4280 or visit www.basshall.com.

Dallas Summer Musicals and Performing Arts Fort Worth will co-present three of these titles: Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID, 42ND STREET and THE SOUND OF MUSIC. The shows will play in Dallas for two weeks, then head to Fort Worth for limited, one-week runs.

About Dallas Summer Musicals:
Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit presenter of Broadway theatre in North Texas. DSM produces, presents and promotes excellence in live musical theatre with year-round performances for diverse audiences of all ages, impacting the lives of children and families through community outreach and education, and enriching the cultural landscape of Dallas/Fort Worth, North Texas and the Southwest Region.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, The Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony® Awards and celebrates the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. Hear Us Now!™ is DSM’s newest initiative. Since 2010 the experts at DSM have made significant changes and upgrades to its acoustical systems to improve the sound quality of the productions for all its patrons, including the hearing impaired. It is so unique that a trademark has been allowed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Coming this fall, Seats for Vets will serve war veterans and their families by providing them with a unique theatrical experience and thanking them for their service. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible.

Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Texas Instruments and gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors and partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery.

For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at DallasSummerMusicals.org.

About Performing Arts Fort Worth:
Performing Arts Fort Worth, the nonprofit organization that oversees management of Bass Performance Hall, presents national Broadway touring product under the Broadway at the Bass banner. Bass Performance Hall is the crown jewel of a city which boasts the nation’s third largest cultural district. It is also an important symbol of one of the most successful downtown revitalization efforts in the country. The 2,056-seat multipurpose Hall is characteristic of the classic European opera house form. An 80-foot diameter Great Dome tops the Founders Concert Theater while two 48-foot tall angels grace the Grand Facade. Since the Hall opened in May 1998, the angels have become preeminent cultural icons of the Dallas-Fort Worth community. The Hall itself is renowned for its superb acoustics, exceptional sight lines and ambiance on level with the great halls of the world. Bass Performance Hall is located on a full city block encompassed by Commerce, Calhoun, 4th and 5th Streets in the historic Sundance Square district of downtown Fort Worth.

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Contact:

Francisco Chairez, Dallas Summer Musicals
(214) 413-3909 | fchairez@DallasSummerMusicals.org

Malcolm Mayhew, Performing Arts Fort Worth
(817) 212-4319 | mmayhew@basshall.com

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